News Harris-Stowe State University For Immediate Release Contact: Courtney McCall (314) 340-3391 mccallc@hssu.edu Harris-Stowe State University Hosts Art Opening to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention Month ST. LOUIS, MO (September 5, 2012) - Harris-Stowe State University, in collaboration with The Missouri Mental Health Foundation, is proud to present the opening of the 2012 Director's Creativity Traveling Showcase on Monday, September 10, 2012, at the Don & Heide Wolff Jazz Institute & Art Gallery in the Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building. The art exhibit will be on display through Thursday, September 20, 2012. Spearheaded by Dr. Vicki Bernard, director of the Office of Counseling Services at Harris-Stowe, the initiative is designed to educate students on how suicide, in particular mental illness, impacts the African-American community and raise awareness for the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month. "We are happy to have this art display on our campus to commemorate National Suicide Prevention Month during which Counseling Services and our peer education group Students Working Against Trauma (SWAT) will be promoting 'Ask, Listen and Refer,' an online suicide tutorial, as well as highlighting the prevalence of suicide in the African-American community and among college aged individuals," said Dr. Bernard. Debuting in 1979, the Director's Creativity Showcase is an annual event that displays the talents of people served by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and serves as an inspiration to all who participate and all who experience these creations. The Missouri Mental Health Foundation's (MMHF) mission is to raise awareness and public understanding to the many issues that impact individuals and families who are living with mental illness, developmental disabilities and addictions disorders. "Sharing some of the artwork we receive is one small way we can celebrate the abilities of those with mental health conditions," said Patty Henry, executive director of the MMHF. For more information contact Dr. Vicki Bernard at (314) 340-5089 or via email at BernardV@hssu.edu. Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Health Care Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Sciences and Computer Technology, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Professional Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education and Urban Affairs. Ranked by U.S. News as one of America's Best Colleges in the Midwest, the university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers the most affordable bachelor's degree in the metropolitan area. ### Courtney Z. McCall Assistant Vice President Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development Harris-Stowe State University Ofc: (314) 340-3391 I mobile: (314) 280-9964 I fax: (314) 340-3575 web: www.hssu.edu <http://www.hssu.edu/> Tell us how we're doing. Please feel free to fill out the survey located at this link: http://www.hssu.edu/surveys/custsatoffice_conf.cfm **********************Harris-Stowe State University********************** This e-mail is confidential and sent only to specified recipient(s). However, all e-mail is subject to possible interception by third parties. *************Contact postmaster@hssu.edu to report problems**************